Menoizikul; Midweek Musicalisms

And just like that, we are in March! My source for birthday composers was full of well-known names this month: Chopin, Vivaldi, Haydn, Ravel, Mussorgsky... a long list! There were three names I didn't know, though, so I have tracked down some short items from them to keep my intention of introducing lesser-known music. Some of it is challenging, I admit, but it does us good to have our comfy edges ruffled from time to time! 

We'll begin with Carlos Gesualdo, Venosa, Italy. Birthday much disputed, but for the sake of scheduling here, we'll go with the earliest date of the 8th of March (though it could be the 30th) and the year as 1566 (though it could be as early as 1561)... Although of the aristocracy, he is better known for his madrigals.

This clip is entertaining not just for providing the English translation at the top of each page, but also for an analysis in words and pictograms! 

Menonday Art Vibe; Haunting

The final one from last year's visit to the National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, and one of my top ten... the blurb on the gallery write-up tells you something of the artist's intention here, but your eyes will also bring you to the conclusion that these guys, amazing as their work is, must carry a burden...

MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly